Eric Clapton plays Robert Johnson

I just saw a really great documentary on PBS of Eric Clapton's roots 'n blues tribute album to Mississippi Delta blues icon Robert Johnson.

If you love blues, then you're familiar with the legendary Robert Johnson, who wrote "Traveling Riverside Blues," "Milkcow's Calf Blues" and "Come on in My Kitchen," among others.

Clapton has paid tribute over the years doing his versions of Johnson's songs, and decided it was about time to salute the legend who has influenced him since his teens.

Even though the album "Me and Mr. Johnson" was released a couple of years ago, I just saw the documentary, and it's inspiring. It's a journey from London to Los Angeles and finally to Dallas, where Johnson made some of his final recordings.

We sit in during tour rehearsals with Clapton's touring band, and also witness acoustic sessions between Clapton and Doyle Bramhall II. EC also talks about Johnson's influence on his music and life in general. The DVD is really a performance plus documentary with eighteen tracks of pure blues bliss.

WEA released a special package of the CD and DVD called "Sessions For Robert J."

Any way you package it...the music pours out just as rootsy and raw as it gets, without pulling out the ol' 78's.

Eric Clapton's Official Website

Related Tags: Eric Clapton, Mississippi Delta, Robert Johnson, Me and Mr. Johnson, Blues, Music, CybersMusic

Monty Python's Spamalot

It's......Monty Python's Spamalot official website!

Wow, you've gotta check this out. It's the most fun website I've seen, since George Harrison re-released "All Things Must Pass."

The high bandwidth site requires the flash player, but it's the most fun. Be sure to mouse over everything...the knights may say "Ni!"

The Broadway play had very successful runs in New York and Chicago. It was directed by Mike Nichols and starred David Hyde Pierce, Tim Curry and Hank Azaria.

Hormel foods issued limited quantities of Spam golden honey grail in a collector's edition can.

montypythonsspamalot.com

allthingsmustpass.com

Buck Owens 1929 - 2006

Country music icon Buck Owens has died of heart failure at his home in Bakersfield, California. He was 76. The native Texan was born near Sherman in 1929. He was already playing guitar in local honky-tonks by age 13.

Owens sold over 16 million albums and helped develop the honky-tonk twang known as the "Bakersfield sound." He also hosted the popular country entertainment TV show "Hee Haw" in the 60's and 70's.

Buck Owens was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996.

Buck Owen's Crystal Palace

Country Music Hall of Fame

Hee Haw

Reuters news article

Related Tags: Buck Owens, Bakersfield sound, Hee Haw, Country Music Hall of Fame, Country Music

Neil Young's Heart Of Gold

Neil Young: Heart of Gold, directed by Jonathan Demme, was filmed last summer during the debut concert of Neil's "Prairie Wind" tour.

The music documentary was captured during a two-night performance by Neil and friends at Nashville's famous Ryman Auditorium.

Neil Young is joined onstage by his wife Pegi, and long time friends Emmylou Harris, Spooner Oldham, Rick Rosas and bandleader Ben Keith. They share the stage with a who's who list of veteran musicians, many of whom have recorded and toured with Young for years.

The film is still in theaters, but you can expect a DVD release later this year.
You can view the trailer at imdb.com.



Related Tags: Neil Young, Heart of Gold, Jonathan Demme, Prairie Wind Tour, music documentary, Ryman Auditorium, Pegi Young, Emmylou Harris, Spooner Oldham, Rick Rosas, Ben Keith, imdb.com, Music, CybersMusic, Rock and Roll

On an Island by David Gilmour

David Gilmour, the voice and guitar of Pink Floyd, has released his new album "On an Island."

Musical guests include David Crosby, Graham Nash, Richard Wright, keyboardist from Pink Floyd, Jools Holland, and Chris Stainton.

The album surprised me. It's a little more mellow than what I would have thought, but I haven't listened to any of his solo work since his first album, released in 1978. My favorite track off his first self-titled album is "There's No Way Out Of Here."

Compare that to the title track "On An Island" which rocks ala Pink Floyd style. Of course, it helps to have original keyboardist Richard Wright on Hammond organ. Gilmour's own distinctive vocals are enhanced by guest vocalists David Crosby and Graham Nash.

"Take A Breath" is the most rockin' track on the album, featuring a marching style drumbeat and rhythmic cello work, which is reminiscent of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir."

"This Heaven," with it's smoky Hammond organ sound reminds me of something off Pink Floyd's "Meddle."

All in all, "On An Island" is a very enjoyable experience. It's been a long wait, but well worth it.

The album was produced by Gilmour, Phil Manzanera and Chris Thomas. Manzanera also guests on keyboards on three tracks.

David Gilmour's official website also gives you the latest info on his tour of the US, Canada and Europe.


Related Tags: David Gilmour, Pink Floyd, On an Island, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Richard Wright, Jools Holland, Chris Stainton, Led Zeppelin, Phil Manzanera, Chris Thomas, Music, CybersMusic, Rock and Roll

Donald Fagen puts out Morph the Cat

by psmurph (contributing writer, fellow musician and long time friend)

You know I'm a Steely Dan Fan. I just got a chance to review my new copy of "Morph the Cat" by Donald Fagen. It's his third solo album, thirteen years in the making.

Production is as Hi-Q as any Donald Fagen production. It has a very mellow overall feel with lots of groove tracks plus imaginative progressions and vocal harmonies. The solo work is all par excellence. The lyrics while ranging into the contextually bizarre are well-laced with the ambiance and imagery of Fagen's (obviously) favorite town; New York City.

Overall, the work misses the memorable (easy) "pop-hooks" in the melody line that have pushed many of his compositions over the top into that "mass-hit" category. There are some simpler pop elements to be found in the bluesy WHAT I DO that is almost ballad-like in it's smooth feel. For any self-respecting pop to jazz musician (or above-the-norm aficionado) however, this recording is another Donald Fagen 'must have!'

I have always thought that Fagen is as much a lyricist as a musical composer (if we can break up and look in upon the creative process). He has done us the major favor of giving us an introduction in the liner notes for each of his songs in tangible language so that we can share where he's coming from. In the past, I have felt that these editings were just a bit too scant to really let the listener in on the joke or terror to which he was referring in his lyrics.

Personally, this recording is a definite A+. I could go on, but I'm gonna stop here 'cuz I'm not being paid for this and the rest is in your own experience...or not.

Sideman Highlights:

From the studio lineup in this project, I would like to highlight Freddie Washington, bass. He was featured in the April, '06 issue of Bassplayer Magazine, p.26 with a special interview reviewing his work with Fagen on MORPH THE CAT. Read about his work in that issue or let me know if you like more "Sideman Highlights."

The CD, just released, is also packaged with a DVD version of the album in 5.1 surround sound.

donaldfagen.com

by psmurph (contributing writer, fellow musician and long time friend)

Related Tags: Steely Dan, Morph the Cat, Donald Fagen, psmurph, Music, Rock and Roll, CybersMusic, Music Review

The Corrs, Enya, Clannad

You can't celebrate Saint Patrick's Day without the great tradition of Celtic music.
These three are my favorite Irish artists...

The Corrs have a new album and DVD called "Home."
The thing I love about The Corrs is how they blend the old traditions of their country with new contemporary sounds.

thecorrswebsite.com/index2.htm

Enya's current album is "Amarantine"
She's got some breathtaking vocals in English and Gaelic.




Clannad formed in Ireland in 1970 when the Brennan kids hooked up with their uncles. This was Enya's first group until the early eighties. Rhino Records has released their anthology called "A Magical Gathering."

Forget the green beer. Bring home these CD's and enjoy the best of the emerald isles!


Related Tags: Saint Patrick's Day, Celtic music, The Corrs, Enya, Clannad, Music, CybersMusic

Spring Break

Well it's finally time for spring break! No matter where you go or what you do, the music has to be good! But what songs go with spring break? What tunes would YOU take?

So I did some surfing, but search results for spring break were disappointing:

iTunes = 2 EP's "Shut Up" & "Big Bad Love" both with six remixes each

Google = lots of info on travel deals and packages, photos, road trips and hot spots

Yahoo = the usual stuff; parties, hot spots and deals on travel

MTV = too bad mtv doesn't mention any music on their spring break page

So I tried some other avenues:

Yahoo Answers = No Doubt, Yellowcard, Sublime, the Animal House soundtrack, or any of the Jock Jams compilations...Yahoo members also suggested hip hop, R&B, surf music, ska, punk, reggae, alternative and techno.

Amazon.com returned 23 results of compilation CD's...my favorite title is
"Dive Right Inn: The Only Spring Break CD You'll Need."

Some of my personal party favs:
"Let The Good Times Roll" The Cars
"Louie Louie" The Kingsmen
"Shout" The Isley Brothers
"Born To Be Wild" Steppenwolf
"You Really Got Me" The Kinks
"Hang On Sloopy" The McCoys
"Dance To The Music" Sly & The Family Stone
"19th Nervous Breakdown" Rolling Stones
"Good Times Bad Times" Led Zeppelin
"Get Back" The Beatles



If I could only bring one album to a spring break party, it would have to be the Animal House soundtrack...I can just hear John Belushi screaming "toga, toga, toga!"









Related Tags: Music, Spring Break, iTunes, Google, Yahoo, MTV, Yahoo Answers, No Doubt, Yellowcard, Sublime, Animal House Soundtrack, Jock Jams, Amazon.com, The Cars, The Kingsmen, The Isley Brothers, Steppenwolf, The Kinks, The McCoys, Sly & The Family Stone, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, CybersMusic

New Orleans

Wow, it sounds like New Orleans is going to be rockin' this spring!

Some really cool things are happening down there...

The Tipitina's Foundation is helping musicians come back home to find work. It's one of several organizations helping artists in the aftermath of huricane Katrina. They've helped about 300 musicians with financial aid, replacement instruments and referrals for housing and gigs.

Tipitina's bar has been showcasing local bands since the seventies. Nowdays, it has become a musicians' community center, where they can use computers and take seminars. Artists can
learn how to navigate the legal system, not just pick up another gig and learning hot riffs.

Other organizations helping out include the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund, MusiCares Hurricane Relief and Preservation Hall's New Orleans Musicians Hurricane Relief Fund.
As many as 3,000 musicians were working in New Orleans before the storm, which swamped eighty percent of the city on August 29th. To date, only 50 to 75 percent of them have returned.

New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund provides donated musical gear and financial help. Jeff Beninato and his wife, Karen do most of the organizing from their new home in Bloomington, Illinois, where they moved after Katrina drove them northward. They've also organized benefit concerts and even renovated a New Orleans apartment where displaced musicians can hang while they're in town.

Some big acts have been added to this year's New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival...

Bruce Springsteen is slated to close out the first weekend, April 28th through 30th. He will perform with the Seeger Sessions Band, the musicians who backed him on an upcoming album inspired by folk singer Pete Seeger. The album "We Shall Overcome" is scheduled for release April 25th. Etta James, Herbie Hancock, Dave Bartholomew and Warren Haynes were announced this week. Dr. John, Bob Dylan and Cowboy Mouth will be performing on opening day, April 28.

Galactic, the Dave Matthews Band and Clarence “Frogman” Henry will perform April 29, and joining Springsteen on April 30 will be the Meters, Yolanda Adams and Allen Toussaint. The second weekend kicks off on May 5th with Doug Kershaw, Keith Urban, Little Feat, Marcia Ball and Koko Taylor and Her Blues Machine. Jimmy Buffet, the Radiators, Buckwheat Zydeco and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band perform on May 6, and Fats Domino, Paul Simon, Lionel Richie, Irma Thomas and Pete Fountain close out the festival on May 7. Visit nojazzfest.com for details on each weekend's lineup.


Related Tags: New Orleans, Tipitina's Foundation, New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund, MusiCares Hurricane Relief, New Orleans Musicians Hurricane Relief Fund, Katrina, Bruce Springsteen, Seeger Sessions Band, Pete Seeger, Etta James, Herbie Hancock, Dave Bartholomew, Warren Haynes, Doug Kershaw, Keith Urban, Little Feat, Marcia Ball, Koko Taylor, Jimmy Buffet, the Radiators, Buckwheat Zydeco, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Fats Domino, Paul Simon, Lionel Richie, Irma Thomas, Pete Fountain

Ray Davies "Other People's Lives"

I've always been a Kinks fan, ever since I first heard "You Really Got Me" on the radio as a teenager. That was one of the BIG Rock Songs that hooked me on rock and roll.

The Davies brothers, Ray and Dave, really knew how to write a pop song. "Lola, All Day And All Of The Night, Tired Of Waiting For You, Dedicated Follower Of Fashion, A Well Respected Man, Sunny Afternoon, and one of my favorite seasonal tunes, "Father Christmas."

That's what makes this event so cool.

Ray Davies will be presenting personal video footage plus a few acoustic songs from his latest album "Other People's Lives" at South By Southwest on Friday March 17.

A discussion will follow this special presentation. Now how cool would that be to chat with one of rock's elder statesmen about his latest work?!?!

SXSW is in full swing this weekend and in it's 20th year in Austin Texas.

"Other People's Lives" was released on V2 Records last November to much critical acclaim. This eagerly anticipated solo album of 13 new songs was written, produced and arranged by Ray Davies himself, and recorded in Konk Studios.

Ray Davies Official Website
SXSW South By Southwest Music Conference
Kinks Links

Related Tags: Kinks, Dave Davies, Ray Davies, Other People's Lives, SXSW, Austin Texas, Music, Music Review, CybersMusic

The Mike Pachelli Show

The Mike Pachelli Show was on TV every Friday and Saturday nights on WTMV WB32 in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. In addition to playing with his group on the show and airing music videos, Mike has had a chance to interview and jam with Paul McCartney, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Plant, Eric Johnson, Zakk Wylde, Allan Holdsworth, and Joe Satriani, among others.

In addition to hosting his own TV show, Mike Pachelli has released 10 CD's, instructional guitar videos, composed soundtrack music, appeared in a variety of indie films, and composed hundreds of major advertising jingles.

Mike was awarded the Jammy Award for #1 Guitarist, won for best Acoustic Guitarist, and the prestigious Bay Area Music Award. He is currently an integral part of the L.A. recording and performing scene.

His website is filled with acoustic music by some mighty fine guitar pickers and players...

Michael Hedges
Adrian Legg
Laurence Juber
Pierre Bensusan
Phil Keaggy
Doug Smith

www.podguitar.com

Related Tags: Guitar, Mike Pachelli, The Mike Pachelli Show, Paul McCartney, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Plant, Eric Johnson, Zakk Wylde, Allan Holdsworth, Joe Satriani, Guitar Videos, Jammy Award, Michael Hedges, Adrian Legg, Laurence Juber, Pierre Bensusan, Phil Keaggy, Doug Smith, Music, CybersMusic, www.podguitar.com

Trade CD's Online

Call it a music co-op...ebay meets iTunes...online swap meet...social networking in a used CD store. I call it cool...it's lala.com.

We should have seen this one coming a long way away. No dusty shelves to dig through!! You just have to be willing to give to receive. Guaranteed CD's for a dollar.forty.nine each. Free membership. List the CD's you're willing to trade. List the CD's you want.

Pretty simple. I signed up in two minutes. The hard part is listing the CD's you're willing to trade. I browsed for five minutes and already found 3 CD's I want. Click on the "I want" link, and they're added to your "want list."

How It Works: Start by picking CD's you want and listing the CD's you have. Find members that have the CD's you want. Members ship CDs directly to you. You're notified when members request the CD's you have. The number of CD's you receive depend on how many CD's you ship to other members. You can browse member collections, playlists or genre, search for specific artists and albums, or listen to samples from personalized recommendations. No commitment. No obligation to buy or ship.

Pay $1.49 per CD but you only pay for CD's received from your want list. The site even provides you with free stamped envelopes to ship your CD's in after you register. And they offer customer satisfaction. If a CD is not received in good condition, they will credit your fee.

lala.com will donate twenty percent of their revenues from used CD's back to the artists. They claim to be working with the major record labels, so we'll see how this works out. Meanwhile, login, register and start browsing and wishing!

Related Tags: Music, CD's, lala.com, Used CD's, Used Music, Trade Music

South by Southwest Music Film & Interactive Festival

Would you jump at the chance to see and hear hundreds of bands, new and emerging artists, vendors, recording artists, label representatives and interface with some of the biggest names in the music industry?

That's what's happening this coming weekend in Austin Texas at the 2006 South By Southwest SXSW Music Conference. This Festival & Trade Show will have the regular daily events like registration, music panels, music festival shows, and film festival; plus other fun events like a golf tournament, poster art show, and barbecue.

Most of the music shows are in the many local clubs bars and venues within walking distance; while registrations, panels and trade shows take place at the Austin Convention Center.

Some of the artists appearing at the Town Lake Stage at Auditorium Shores include Sam Moore, Lyle Lovett, The Pretenders, Buckwheat Zydeco, and Allen Toussaint, but there's far too many bands and artists, films, interactive demos, trade shows, discussion panels and local bars to mention here...details are on 2006.sxsw.com.

Neil Young and Jonathan Demme will speak at a keynote conversation workshop on Thursday March 16th.

Also on Thursday, Morrissey will be interviewed by Rolling Stone's David Fricke, followed by a performance later that evening at the Austin Music Hall, presented by the BBC Radio.

Herbie Hancock appears on Friday for the film premiere "Possibilities," which follows the recording of Hancock's album of the same name.

Featured speakers for this year's music conference include Judy Collins, Kris Kristofferson and Bill Bragg. Music professionals keep current with the four day round of discussions, panels, speeches, interviews, workshops, and mentor sessions.

Studio SX presents live interviews and conversations with SXSW panelists, showcasing artists and music business figures, like an interview with Harry Shearer, of Spinal Tap & The Folksmen. Plus three new artist interviews this year with k.d. lang, Sam Moore and the Pretenders. Many of these interviews will be posted on the web at www.sxsw.com.

Wednesday March 15th:
Golf Tournament
Registration
Music Panels & Festival
Music Welcome Dinner
Film Festival
Austin Music Awards.

Thursday March 16th:
Registration
Music Panels
Trade Show
Festival
Film Festival
Flatstock Poster Artist Show

Friday March 17th:
Music Registration: 10am-9pm
Music Panels, Trade Show, Festival
Film Festival
Flatstock Poster Artist Show

Saturday March 18th:
Music Registration: 11am-4pm
Music Panels, Trade Show, Festival
Film Festival
Flatstock Poster Artist Show

Sunday March 19:
Softball Tournament & Barbecue
Music Festivalhttp://2006.sxsw.com/


Related Tags: Austin, South By Southwest Music Conference, SXSW, Sam Moore, Lyle Lovett, The Pretenders, Buckwheat Zydeco, Allen Toussaint, Neil Young, Jonathan Demme, Austin Music Hall, BBC Radio, Judy Collins, Kris Kristofferson, Bill Bragg, sxsw.com, Live Music, Music

Sheryl Crow Recovering From Breast Cancer Surgery

Everyday Is a Winding Road for Sheryl Crow.

That's because she's the latest music celebrity to be affected by breast cancer. Crow is currently recovering from minimally invasive surgery for breast cancer, that was performed on February 22nd. Her doctors say her prognosis is excellent and should make a full recovery. Her label has stated she will be undergoing radiation treatment as a precaution.

Sheryl Crow has postponed her North American tour that was scheduled for March through April. Details of that announcement are on her website.

The Grammy award winning singer has just turned 44. She was seen signing autographs in Hollywood just one week after surgery.

"I am inspired by the brave women who have faced this battle before me and grateful for the support of family and friends," she said in a written statement. "I am joining the more than 200,000 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year."

There was a Power Benefit recently in Beverly Hills, where Sheryl Crow was the talk of the town. The all star benefit included (among others) Natalie Cole, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Melissa Etheridge, who received the EIF Women's Cancer Research Fund Courage Award. Etheridge is also a breast cancer survivor, who rocked last year's Grammy audience with a clean shaven head. Past recipients of the EIF award include Sir Elton John and Stella McCartney.

Lance Armstrong, who recently split with Crow, overcame testicular cancer years ago and founded Livestrong SurvivorCare.

Crow's most recent album, the Grammy nominated "Wildflower," was inspired by their relationship.

For assistance to help survivors face the everyday physical, emotional and practical challenges of cancer through education, qualified referrals and counseling services, please call LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare at 1-866-235-7205.




Related Tags: Sheryl Crow, breast cancer, Grammy Award, Melissa Etheridge, Sir Elton John, Stella McCartney, EIF Women's Cancer Research Fund Courage Award, Cancer, Wildflower, LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare, Music

David Gilmour On an Island

Released on Feb. 21st, it's the new single from his forthcoming album "On an Island" by David Gilmour.

6:47 on iTunes. Six minutes and forty-seven seconds of the good stuff FM radio used to play, when it was cool. Like when they would let the album track right through the entire side of an LP, especially from artists like Pink Floyd.

kzps.com is offering a sneak peak at the new album.
CD available mid-march

Gilmour's signature guitar solo and fluid style are welcome ear candy to rock fans. I can hear "On an Island" playing on radio across the dial from classic rock to even wave radio.

David Gilmour's official website has an Electronic Press Kit; a short film, intended for International TV and Press use, featuring short interview sections with David and some footage of the album recording sessions.

It is intended to give a flavour of the "On An Island" album, so that a local TV news reporter can announce the album and introduce some footage. It includes some of the artists appearing on the album, sessions at David’s Astoria studio, and the orchestra at Abbey Road.

Related Tags: David Gilmour, On an Island, kzps.com, Music, Rock and Roll, Pink Floyd, iTunes